An Anglican bishop in Northern Ireland expressed Sunday inter-church solidarity following the recent sectarian attacks on Catholic churches and schools in the Ballymena area of County Antrim.

Speaking at Catholic masses on Sunday, Church of Ireland Bishop of Connor, Alan Harper, said that more than words of condemnation were needed, reported the Associated Press, and called on political and religious leaders to be put on a united public front against sectarianism.

In the last week, extra police officers have been put out to patrol the streets to prevent more attacks in the Ballymena area, situated in the heart of Protestant Northern Ireland.

Bishop Harper called for greater engagement by community leaders, however: “I would very much like to see churchmen and political leaders, people who have status in the community – who are perhaps people who are elected by the community to represent them – to find ways of modelling a kind of respectful, collaborative solidarity with one another.”

He added: “It doesn’t require any surrender of principle, what it requires is for people to stand together and be seen to stand together.”

Two churches, All Saints Church and Our Lady’s Church in Harryville, County Antrim, were the victim of paint and graffiti attacks in July.

The Catholic Bishop of Down and Connor Dr Patrick Walsh called the attacks at the time ‘desecration’.